Priest blames paganism for Povetkin's defeat

MOSCOW. Oct 6 (INtefax) - Alexander Povetkin's defeat in a fight for the world champion's title with Ukraine's Wladimir Klitschko, had a spiritual underpinning, said Hieromonk Dimitry (Pershin), chief of the Moscow Diocesan Council's Missionary Commission.

"The main mistake is, in my opinion, that a victory cannot be won at any cost. No sport achievement can be won at the cost of losing one's soul. And not any kind of energy can be allowed into one's inner self," Father Dimitry told Interfax on Sunday.

"The spirit of the forbearers was of no assistance to Povetkin during the fight," he said.

"Povetkin spoke about his Orthodox faith at the beginning of his sport career, but then he switched to neo-paganism, which can be seen from his new runic tattoos and the pagan little song that fills the air when he steps on the ring sometimes," he said.

"Instead of getting new tattoos Povetkin should have trained more," he added.

Since the fight against Klitschko is not the last one in Povetkin's career, Father Dimitry wished him maturing into "the genuine Orthodox faith, professed by Andrei Rublev, Dmitry of the Don, Alexander Suvorov, Alexander Pushkin, Archpriest Ioann (Krestyankin) and Georgy Sviridov."

"Let us never forget that our hearts need a free life in Christ, not idols, amulets, runes or charms. To win this freedom we must keep fighting against the master of this "dead world," as song writer Vyacheslav Butusov sang. We challenge the master through the sacrament of christening, and we become one with Christ. Only as we keep fighting and praying, can we walk our way towards resurrection," he said.

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